A late header from new signing Koldo Obieta helped Kerala Blasters FC begin their AIFF Super Cup 2025-26 campaign with a hard-earned 1-0 win against a 10-man Rajasthan United FC at the GMC Stadium on Thursday.

In a tense opening Group D encounter, Rajasthan were reduced to ten men, with Gursimrat Singh Gill seeing a straight red card, but still pushed the Blasters all the way before Obieta’s strike in the dying minutes sealed the points.

It was a match that tested both patience and endurance. For long stretches, it seemed that the Blasters, heavy favourites against their I-League opponents, would be held to a stalemate. Rajasthan, despite its numerical disadvantage, defended bravely, throwing bodies in front of every cross and shot, as per the AIFF website.

The early exchanges saw Rajas

See Full Page